10 ways to have a fun date night in Canberra

Whether you're visiting Canberra or a local, the city offers plenty of choice for date night. Marketplace Gungahlin lists top options for a night out.

07 July - 02 July

All day

Whether you’re a local or visiting, there’s always something new to discover in the city of Canberra. At night, the city comes alive with cultural events, atmospheric bars and clubs, and lively restaurants. For a romantic dinner date out in Canberra, check out these ideas.

1. Take a night tour

For something new, try a night-time tour to get to know this historical city. Canberra offers a range of night tours, whether you’re looking for a spooky experience or a chance to get close to wildlife and nature. Tim the Yowie Man runs Weird Canberra Ghost and History Tour where you’ll visit sites of crimes, hauntings, and murders. Alternatively, you can opt for the National Film and Sound Archive Ghost Tour to find out more about the disturbing stories about the NFSA.

If you’re an animal lover, try Tidbinbilla Nature Park and Mulligans Flat for the night-time tours where you can see native species in their element. After a tour, warm up at a restaurant or cafe with a delicious meal and drinks.

2. Enjoy a stargazing night

Experience the wonders of the night sky with a Scope by Night evening at the famous local observatory Scope Mount Stromlo. You can check out the stars through the telescopes on site and mingle with members of the Canberra Astronomical Society Members. Follow up your stargazing with a delicious buffet.

3. Break out of an escape room

If you’ve never tried an escape room, this is your chance to experience the fun of this physical adventure game. Canberra’s three escape rooms – Escape Room Canberra, Expedition Escape Rooms and Riddle Room Canberra – offer the puzzles games for teams of two. After breaking out of your room, you can relax and enjoy dinner at one of the city’s many quality restaurants.

4. Movie and dinner night

For a relaxing night out, catch a movie after a delicious dinner. Canberra is home to an eclectic mix of restaurants, so you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to cuisine. Another way to enjoy a relaxing date night is to enjoy some retail therapy before dinner. For something different, try Zehni’s Turkish Kitchen for authentic Turkish food or Young & Frisky for crispy chicken and whiskey.

5. Explore the foodie scene

The heart of Canberra’s foodie scene is located in Braddon’s Lonsdale Street. Filled with multicultural food trucks, restaurants, and pop-up bars, Lonsdale Street is your go-to place for a foodie’s night out. If you visit during the day you’ll also get to browse its fashion boutiques.

6. Have a cultural night out

Australia’s capital city has a busy schedule of cultural events throughout the year, so check out what’s on to plan your cultural date night out. Theatre events, film festivals, live music, concerts, and art exhibitions regularly feature in the city’s event calendar, so you’ll have plenty to do or see whether you’re a visitor for the weekend or a local resident.

8. Go skating in the city

For those who want to get a little active on date night. Skate in the City is a great options for a romantic night out. Skate in the City runs in the winter months only, so dont miss out and check for exact dates and details here.

10. Wander the night market

Eat, drink, and explore to the sound of live music at Night Market Canberra, the city’s biggest outdoor night-time market. The event features fashion, homewares, crafts, and lifestyle products, along with street food, live music, and a licensed bar. Check out the Night Market Canberra site for updates on dates.

Canberra offers numerous options for a romantic date night out, whether you’re looking for a relaxing dinner or something novel and unusual. With plenty of dining options and cultural events, you and your partner are sure to find something to suit your preferences.